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March 24, 2026
跪guì(gui4)
The verb 跪 (guì) means 'to kneel.' It is often used in both literal and figurative contexts, such as showing respect or submission in ceremonies or discussions. Kneeling can symbolize humility, reverence, or an act of worship in various cultural rituals.
Strokes13Radical足Frequency#5403DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
Kneeling is an important gesture in Chinese culture, particularly in traditional ceremonies like weddings or during ancestral worship, where it signifies deep respect and honor.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person at a wedding kneeling down to propose with a ring. The character 跪 looks like a person on their knees (the bottom part is similar to a person in a kneeling position), and 'guì' sounds like 'greet,' which is what you do when you kneel to show respect.
Meanings of 跪
guì(gui4)
1to kneel
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 跪
跪Simplified
13Strokes
足Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#5403Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 跪
Podcast: 跪
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AI Study Notes for 跪
Quick Contrast
跪 (guì) vs 蹲 (dūn) — use 跪 when referring specifically to kneeling, often in a context of respect or submission, while 蹲 refers to squatting, a different posture.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person at a wedding kneeling down to propose with a ring. The character 跪 looks like a person on their knees (the bottom part is similar to a person in a kneeling position), and 'guì' sounds like 'greet,' which is what you do when you kneel to show respect.
Usage Notes
Be aware that using 跪 inappropriately can come off as overly formal or disrespectful in casual conversations. It is often paired with words like '拜' (bài, to worship) when discussing religious practices or formal events.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 跪 connects to other verbs related to physical actions or postures, such as 坐 (zuò, to sit) and 站 (zhàn, to stand). Focus on the context and emotional connotations when using this word in sentences.
Cultural Note
Kneeling is an important gesture in Chinese culture, particularly in traditional ceremonies like weddings or during ancestral worship, where it signifies deep respect and honor.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 跪 with 站 (zhàn, to stand) due to similar contexts of posture. For instance, saying '我想站' (wǒ xiǎng zhàn, I want to kneel) is incorrect; the correct phrase would be '我想跪' (wǒ xiǎng guì).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 跪
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Grammar Patterns of 跪
跪 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
我____了下来，祈求得到指引。
I went down on my knees and prayed for guidance.
Example Sentences for 跪 (10)
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1
我跪了下来，祈求得到指引。
wǒ guì le xià lái， ， qí qiú dé dào zhǐ。
I went down on my knees and prayed for guidance.
2
他跪在她的旁边，双手握住她的一只手。
tā guì zài tā de páng biān， ， shuāng shǒu wò zhù tā de yī zhī。
He knelt beside her and caught her hand in both of his.
3
他虔诚地跪在床边。
tā qián chéng dì guì zài chuáng biān。
He was kneeling by his bed in an attitude of devotion.
The hunter knelt beside the animal carcass and commenced to skin it.
5
康蒂跪下来虔诚地用手在胸前画了个十字。
kāng dì guì xià lái qián chéng dì yòng shǒu zài xiōng qián huà le gè shí zì。
Conti kneeled and crossed himself piously.
6
她跪了下来，轻吻迈克尔的脸颊。
tā guì le xià lái， ， qīng wěn mài kè ěr de liǎn。
She knelt and brushed her lips softly across Michael's cheek.
7
工人们跪在地上，将小石子锤进去。
gōng rén mén guì zài dì shàng， ， jiāng xiǎo shí zǐ chuí jìn。
The workers kneel on the ground and hammer the small stones in.
8
老玛丽亚跪在壁炉前的空地上，扇着闷燃的炉火。
lǎo mǎ lì yà guì zài bì lú qián de kōng dì shàng， ， shàn zháo mèn rán de lú。
Kneeling in front of the open hearth, old Maria was fanning the smoldering fire.
9
她叹了一口气，跪倒在我脚边。
tā tàn le yī kǒu qì， ， guì dǎo zài wǒ jiǎo。
Giving a sigh, she fell to her knees at my feet.
10
我单腿跪下插上吸尘器插头.
wǒ dān tuǐ guì xià chā shàng xī chén qì chā tóu.
I went down on one knee to plug in the vacuum cleaner.
Cultural Notes for 跪
🏮Cultural insight
Kneeling is an important gesture in Chinese culture, particularly in traditional ceremonies like weddings or during ancestral worship, where it signifies deep respect and honor.
Word Family of 跪
Words Containing This Character8
跪guìto kneel
跪下to kneel down
下跪to kneel
跪倒to kneel down
跪拜to kowtow
长跪to kneel as in prayer (without sitting back on the heels)長跪
三跪九叩to kneel three times and kowtow nine times (formal etiquette on meeting the emperor)
跪叩to kowtow
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 跪 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 跪
Yes, while 跪 specifically means to kneel, other terms like 蹲 (dūn, to squat) might be used in different contexts.
It's typically more formal; using it in casual settings may seem out of place.
Kneeling is often associated with respect and humility, especially in religious and ceremonial contexts.
